Energy modeling (BOMA article)

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), which focuses on non-residential properties, places an article at FacilitiesNet that nicely summarizes CBRE’s work in sustainability during 2007.

“Energy efficiency makes the difference” highlights CB’s use of energy modeling and BIM, which is becoming a useful addition to CAD.

“A key part of the company’s plan to improve energy efficiency in its space involves using the ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool. To begin, all office buildings larger than 100,000 square feet will be benchmarked; a second round for smaller buildings will follow.”

At a recent internal sustainability committee meeting I made the argument that the industry is headed this way: it’s time to crack the books and then get our hands dirty with the details.

http://www.buildingoperatingmanagement.com/article.asp?id=7363

There’s a much longer discussion of energy modeling in the April 2008 issue of GreenSource. I haven’t waded through it yet, but their continuing ed articles for the AIA usually provide a few new tidbits to those who aren’t otherwise paying attention.

As an owner/former developer, I’m very much of the ‘make it work’ school of thought. Nevertheless, I will concede that whole building integration of HVAC, lighting, LEED, and other requirements is still tricky business. Trying to find someone who understood my desires in the Memphis project took forever.

Here are two DOE-backed modeling efforts:

Oak Ridge Benchmarking Building Energy Performance (http://eber.ed.ornl.gov/benchmark). This website allows you to quickly benchmark energy performance on 16 different building types and approximate energy use and cost savings from energy upgrades.

Energy IQ (http://energybenchmarking.lbl.gov). Currently under way, the pilot version of this tool is being called the next generation of nonresidential energy benchmarking. This “action-oriented” tool provides opportunity assessments based on benchmarking results. The tool supports comparison of the user’s building to peers and the tracking of an individual building or portfolio over time.